By The Daily Journalist.
The Cold War has ended in the Caribbean. United States and Cuba have restored full diplomatic relations, interrupted on January 4, 1961 after the sharpening of a revolutionary political conflict between the two nations.
This morning, about 500 people participated in a ceremony where the Cuban flag will be hoisted at the embassy in Washington, while in Havana will be a normal day at the US embassy, which only hoisted their flag at the end of August, when John Kerry’s trip to the island, the first visit by a Secretary of State since 1948.
For the occasion, Havana Washington has sent a delegation of 28 people, representing government and society that no member of the internal opposition has been invited. The group is chaired by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, and includes personalities such as former Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon, who for decades was in charge of all Cuban diplomacy related to US singer Silvio Rodriguez, historian Eusebio Leal and a couple of state firms entrepreneurs, two scientists and even a featured couple of peasants.
On the US side they have been invited to attend the Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, who led the talks of restoring relations with Havana, and the current charge d’affaires of the United States in Havana, Jeffrey DeLaurentis.
After the hoisting of the flag, Rodriguez will deliver a short speech and a small snack will continue. Among the 500 American guests appear Congressmen and senators, local politicians, academics, former diplomats and activists who for decades championed the cause of Cuba in soil its northern neighbor.
The preparation of the ceremony began a few weeks ago when the flagpole was erected. On Friday a group of workers ripped wall plaque that identified the property as the ‘Cuba Interests Section’ and replaced it with one that reads, “Embassy of the Republic of Cuba.” The two countries established tenuous diplomatic links in 1977 during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.
By early afternoon after the ceremony, Cuban Foreign Minister, who is visiting Washington for the first time, moved to the headquarters of the State Department for a meeting with Kerry to participate in the placement of the Cuban flag in the main atrium where all the flags of the countries with which the US had full diplomatic relations are.
The Cuban embassy building was built in 1917 and renovated in recent years. It is a magnificent three-story mansion with a huge marble staircase and also the offices of the ambassador and secretaries, houses a small private bar called ‘Hemingway’, in homage to the American writer who lived for decades in Cuba.
Currently there shall be ambassadors appointed. In the American case it will be a difficult task because several congressmen of Cuban origin have said they will torpedo the nomination. In Havana, the process is different but still has not revealed a name. So, for now, the embassies will be chaired by a charge d’affaires, DeLaurentis the US, and Jose Ramon Cabañas by Cuban.
Last week, Cuban President Raul Castro, explained to parliament that the opening of embassies is “the first stage” of a process of “normalization”, but still are many issues to be resolved. Cuba calls for an end to the US embargo, the return of the Guantanamo Naval Base, compensation for the prejudice caused by the embargo, the end of the radio and TV Martí and the repeal of the aid programs to the internal opposition .
“Then it will start a new stage, long and complex, on the way to the normalization of relations, which require will to find solutions to problems that have accumulated over five decades and affect ties between our countries and peoples” Castro emphasized.
